Ravens on the mend

The benefits of the playoff bye weekend were obvious to John Harbaugh.

The Ravens coach said players nursing various injuries and ailments appear much improved after getting the opportunity to rest for three consecutive days over the weekend.

“From an injury perspective, we look good,” Harbaugh said during his weekly conference Monday. “We anticipate everybody playing in the game [against the Houston Texans Sunday].”

Harbaugh said the turf toe injury that shelved inside linebacker Ray Lewis for four consecutive games earlier in the season is no longer a concern.

“He looks great,” Harbaugh said. “No, he’s 100 percent. Any report to the contrary is absolutely untrue. His toe is 100 percent. Has been for a couple weeks.”

Inside linebackers Jameel McClain and Brendon Ayanbadejo did not practice last week due to knee and quad sprains, respectively, but Harbaugh said their injuries are getting better.

“Jameel and Brendon are working through their knee issues,” Harbaugh said. “They should be good. We’ll see how they practice.”

Inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, strong safety Tom Zbikowski and rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith have not yet been cleared for contact, but Harbaugh said that could happen as early as Tuesday. Harbaugh also said that wide receiver Anquan Boldin appears fully recovered from surgery three weeks ago to repair a partially torn meniscus in his knee.

“What we did today was a very light kind of a walkthrough practice, but he looks fine, and he’s been running on it,” Harbaugh said. “So he should be 100 percent.”

Defensive end Cory Redding, who has been bothered by a balky right ankle, said he is living proof of the benefits of the bye weekend.

“Awesome,” Redding said Monday when asked how he felt. “I was just talking to some of my coaches and talking about how good I feel. I lost a few pounds working real hard and just really reflecting on myself.”